Victoires de la Musique: Aya Nakamura, Orelsan & Indochine Lead Nominees 2024

The Friday, February 13th Victoires de la Musique, France’s equivalent of the Grammy Awards, promises a night of celebrating both established stars and emerging talent. The 41st edition, broadcast live from La Seine Musicale in Boulogne-Billancourt, will honor Nana Mouskouri and Indochine with special awards, while a new generation of artists vie for recognition across a range of categories.

This year’s nominations reflect a diverse musical landscape, with Theodora leading the pack with five nominations. Her album, Méga BBL, and collaboration with Disiz on “melodrama” have propelled her to the forefront of the French music scene. Helena, a breakout star from the reality show Star Academy, follows closely with four nominations, while Charlotte Cardin has secured three.

The male artist categories feature a strong lineup including Orelsan, Disiz, Feu! Chatterton, Pierre Garnier, and Santa. Orelsan has the potential to make history should he win for La Fuite en avant, a musical extension of his film Yoroï. A victory would tie him with Alain Bashung and Matthieu Chedid for the most Victoires de la Musique wins, with a total of 13.

Disiz’s resurgence is a notable storyline this year. After a period of relative quiet, the rapper and singer has experienced a career revival, culminating in sold-out performances at the Olympia concert hall. His duet with Theodora has been instrumental in this comeback, demonstrating the power of collaboration in the current music climate.

The “Révélation” categories highlight the next wave of French musical talent. Ino Casablanca, L2B, and Sam Sauvage are competing for the male “Révélation” award, each bringing a distinct sound to the table. Sam Sauvage offers a retro-pop sensibility, while L2B blends multiple Afro influences into their rap, and Ino Casablanca is gaining traction with industry programmers.

The awards ceremony will also recognize achievements in specific areas of music production, including “Original Song,” “Concert,” and “Visual Production,” reflecting a broader appreciation for the artistry involved in creating a complete musical experience. The “Concert de l’année” category features DJ Snake, Justice, Santa, and Philippe Katherine.

In keeping with tradition, the Victoires de la Musique will bridge generational gaps. Following in the footsteps of Sylvie Vartan and Eddy Mitchell, the Friday night event will bestow an Honorary Award upon Nana Mouskouri, the 91-year-old Greek-French singer whose career has spanned decades and included hits like “Quand tu chantes” (1976), which has recently seen a resurgence in popularity thanks to its inclusion in the television series Cassandra.

Indochine, the iconic French rock band with 40 years of chart-topping hits and over 13 million albums sold, will receive a special prize recognizing their record-breaking Arena Tour, which drew over a million spectators. The band’s acceptance of the award marks a reconciliation after years of distancing themselves from the Victoires de la Musique, which they previously deemed “galvaudées” (devalued). Despite the honor, Indochine will not be present at the ceremony due to a prior concert commitment in Brussels.

The ceremony, hosted by Helena Noguerra alongside Cyril Féraud, and presided over by honorary president Mika, promises a dynamic evening celebrating the best of French music. The broadcast on France 2, France.tv, and France Inter will offer a national platform for these artists and their achievements.

The nominees for Album of the Year are Hele d’Helena, Labyrinthe de Feu! Chatterton, La fuite en avant d’Orelsan, Méga BBL de Theodora, and on s’en rappellera pas de disiz. Competing for the Original Song of the Year award are Fashion designa by Theodora, Les filles, les meufs by Marguerite, Mauvais garçon by Helena, Soleil bleu by Luiza and Bleu soleil, and Tant pis pour elle by Charlotte Cardin. The nominees for Visual Production of the Year are the music videos for Fashion Designa (Theodora), Je t’accuse (Suzane), and Tant pis pour elle (Charlotte Cardin).